A Surprise Proposal for the Books

It isn't unusual for Jorge and me to make spontaneous travel plans, so I wasn't suspicious when Jorge suggested to take a trip to New Orleans for his birthday weekend at the end of the summer in 2017. New Orleans held a lot of significance for the two of us because it was our first vacation that we took as a couple when we started dating in 2013. We arrived in New Orleans for the second time on Jorge's birthday, so he told me that he had arranged three course dinner at a plantation. Keeping this in mind, we both dressed up without making me suspicious.

After a lovely ride with our Uber driver who showed us the sights in New Orleans, we arrived at the Southern Oaks Plantation. In addition to the three course meal, we were also going on a tour of the plantation. While we waited for the tour to begin we snapped pictures outside the house and then were directed to the back of the house to begin the tour.

When we made our way to the side of the main plantation house, the sun had just set and we came across a back garden that was lit by candles. There was a path of open books that led to typewriter on a desk, with a large quote written on a long scroll of paper. As soon as we entered the yard, more lights in the trees began to turn on. At the same time the lights came on, a song started to play that made me realize that this was his proposal. The song was "Somos dos" by Bomba Estéreo, it is a very sweet song that Jorge and I have both loved for a long time. Jorge led me to the typewriter where I could read the quote that said:

"I have waited for this opportunity for more than half a century, to repeat to you once again my vow of eternal fidelity and everlasting love," from the book Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, one of my favorite books. It was then that Jorge asked me to spend the rest of my life with him and even though I was overcome with emotion, I managed to say yes!

After the proposal, I realized how much he had planned for it. Jorge worked together with proposal planner, Stacey Asaro, owner of Project Proposal to plan all the details, from the lights, to the open books with pictures of us in them, even the "Uber" driver was in on the surprise since he was actually the owner of the plantation! Jorge and I were both so grateful that with their help, we were able to have a beautiful proposal with photos to remember the night forever.